Life-preserver.



(l. H. E. G.`MUTH.

LIFE PRESEBVER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. a, 1910.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

. ments are -held out `same time preventing half formed charge of 'UNITED sTA'rns 'PATENT orrrcn,

CARL HERMAN EMILoo'rfrHELF Murri, or str. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AssIGNoB. To

CONSTANDIN KUZAROFF, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

LIF-PBESERVER.

county of Ramsey and State of Minnes'ota,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lie-Preservers, of which the following is a specification. j

My invention relates to improvements in life preservers and has for its primary .0b- 'ect the design of 'a' life preserver that can e normally Worn 'in a deflated condition and which is automatically inliated' upon coming in contact with Water.

In apparatus of this kind it is necessary to have a gas producer in which the eleby the action of Water and my device is designed to keep the elements completely-isolated normally and to produce quick sure action When they are once released, at the the projection of the gas into the inflatablebelt together with 'the unmixed ele ments.

In the 4accompanying 'drawings with which I illustrate my device and which form part of my speciiication, Figure 1 is a perspective of a blt to which is attached my gasy producer; Fig, 2 is a sectional plan of the gas producer, and Fig.' 3 is a sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

In the above draWin I have shown an inflatable 'belt 2 which 1s adapted to be attachedto a vest or other garment by sewing or other suitable mea-ns. The belt is nor mally deflated and can be Wornwithout inconvenience. A gas producer 3 is attached to the belt 2 by means of a flexible tube 4 and designed to be Worn in a pocket of the garmentto which the belt is attached. The gas producer shown, is designed for the use of Water and carbid as gas producing elements butA may be usedwith any other suitable substances. The belt and tube are 'made of rubber Vor other gas proof material.

of contact until released A 'While the space 22 is Specication of Letters Patent. atentedlov, 14:, 191] Application led August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,281.

partment 8. The plug 11 lies in a. recess ir. the Wall of the casing and extends into an external boss 13 havinga slot- 14 in its side .and a small aperture 15- in its end. The

plug 11is held in its normal position agains; the pressure of the spring 12 by means o'E a disk 16 of material soluble in Water, which is placed in the slot in the side of the bos; and prevents the plugll from rising in its recess until thev disk has been dissolved by comin-g into contact With Water. The aperture 15 aids in the rapid dissolving of the disk. A perforated screw cap 17 fits over the boss 13 and serves to protect the openings in the boss, atthe same time allowing the entranceof Water.

y A partition v18 of Wire mesh serves to cor.- fine the carbid 19 and preventits escape in a dry or partly Water outlet mechanism Where it might' interfere .With the proper action of tte valve 10. i l

A partition 20 traverses. the space -bctween the partition 7 andthe screw top 6 of the casing and divides this space into two parts 21 and 22. The partition is formed by a strip of packing material confined in a groove 23 on the surface of the partition 7 and connects at one end with the meshod partition 18, thus forming a small gas passageway 241, and connecting the two spaces 21 and 22 through the carbid chamber. The space 21 is thus adj acent to the water outlet dissolved condition into the and -to the partition 18 confining, the carbid,

adjacent to the gas or tlet 25 which connects to the flexible tube 4; In this outlet is shown an outlet valve 26 held normally closed by Va spring 27, ai 1d tit-ted to pass gasV from the gas producer to the tube 4 and to the inflatable belt-M2. This valve is shown mounted upon a valve seat 28 which screws into the outlet 25, but may be placed in any other position betwe en the gas producerl 3 and the lnflatable belt 2.

In charging my gas producer, the valve l() is adjusted and a disk 16 inserted above the plug 11, holding the valve firmly closed. The Water compartiment S is then filled through the inlet plug 9. The compartment for carbid being thoroughly dry, is tiled with carbid andthe screw top 6 `s adjusted on the casing which is attached to the tube`I 4. The device is'4 then in condition to be worn. When immersed in water, as by l;he capsizing of a person'fwearing the belt iiito the water, the disk 16 is at once dissolved by water entering through the perforated cap 17 and the plug 11 is released opening the Water outlet valve 10. The contents of the water compartment 8 will flow out, in practically any rposition ofthe casing, into the space 21 and thus gains access to all, parts o-f the carbid confined by the meshed partition 18. The water c'annot pass to the gas outlet without first traversing the `carbid chamber where it coacts with the carbid. The partition 18 also prevents particles of carbid from being blown into the gas outlet by the sudden formation of gas. The gas as formed passes out through the gas passage- Way 24 and the outlet valve, infiating the life preserver belt and buoying up the body in the water. The charge of carbid is ad apted to exactly fill the inflatable belt and the entire operation of filling the belt occupies but a few seconds.

lIn accordance with the patentl statutes I have described the. principles of operation of my invention together With'the apparatus Whichl now consider to re resent the best embodiment .thereof but I dlesire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can "30.- vbe carried out by other means and appliedto. uses other-than thoseabove set forth Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is v 1. A gas 'producer adapted for use in con- 'nection Ywith inflatable life preserver belts, i consisting of a casing, a water-tightcomcasing and inclosed by a meshed fabric, an air compartment having a gas outlet adapted to transfer gas into said belt, a partition dividing said aircompartment into two por tions, one adjacent to said carbid compartment and Water outlet and one adjacent to said gas outlet, 4said portions being connected by a. vsmall gas passageway through said partition, and a valve in said gas outlet, whereby upon the operation of the water outlet valve, Water may freely How into the air compartment adjacent to the carbid and have complete access to all portions of the carbid compartment and the gas produced may flow freely through the gas passageway and outlet valve into the life preserver belt without any admixture of Water or carbid particles.

2. An automatic gas producer for a life preserver belt, comprising in combination, an outer casing, a water compartment therein having an automatically operative outlet intosaid casing, a carbid compartment in said casing having. perforated walls adjacent to said water outlet, a partition in said casing adapted to confine water and carbid from their respective compartments ,when incombin'ationaand having an aperture to pass gas formedl therefrom, and a valve in lsaid casing adapted to pass gasfrom said aperturepto a life preserver belt and to `prevent moisture from said belt entering said` casing.

In testimony whereof, -I have signed my name'to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL HERMAN EMIL GOTTHELF MUTH.

Witnesses:

y JULE DONOVAN,

F. S. BRADBURY. 

